Pennsylvania budget bill gets off to a rocky start in House

HARRISBURG -- A state budget bill reached the floor of the Pennsylvania House a week before the current budget expires, but with the major spending questions unresolved.

The House sent the bill Monday to the Appropriations Committee, which is expected to amend it today with proposals for plugging a projected revenue gap of $1.7 billion.

Rep. Joseph Markosek, the committee's ranking Democrat, blasted Gov. Tom Corbett for threatening to hold up the budget until lawmakers approve changes in state pensions and liquor and wine sales. He said those changes would not help balance the budget.

Rep. William Adolph, the committee chairman, called the budget "a work in progress."